Why everyone's talking about Peckham right now

Liz Earle's Isle of Wight insider guide

Co-founder of the namesake beauty brand and author of over 30 books Liz Earle is an expert in all areas of wellbeing. With the beauty company headquarters based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Liz Earle has spent a lot of time on the island. This year, the Liz Earle Beauty Co is the sponsor of the island's summer festival. We ask Liz for her top tips and local know-how:

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On the beaches…

'The Isle of Wight has some of the best beaches in Europe. And no matter where you are on the island, you are just a short trip away from the beach. Ryde and Appley have the largest stretch of open sands and are perfect for family games in the summer. Springvale Beach has amazing views across the Solent, making it a perfect place to watch the sailing boats go by and spot ocean liners going into Portsmouth. A mixture of shingle and sand stretches from Puckpool to Seaview on the north coast. The sea here is very clear and the beach is often undiscovered by visitors, so, although not a complete secret, it is a great beach if you're looking to avoid the summer crowds.'

On the views…

Tennyson Down is a beautiful open downland with sheer chalk cliffs and dramatic sea views. The light and weather conditions are different on every visit. It's the perfect place for a sunset walk and one that helps me breathe in the salt air and walk peacefully, surrounded by the gorse and tiny downland flowers.

On the food…

'The Beach Hut at Bembridge is so much more than just a beach hut. Only a couple of years old, it's a wonderfully rustic seafood café which overlooks the spectacular Forelands Beach. It's exposed to the wind, sea and sun and therefore is usually only open from March to October. It uses local seafood and produce which is kind to the surrounding environment. I love that you can take your own wine - it's a great place to enjoy family time. And it's a real favourite of our team at the head office on the Island's, too.'

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On botanicals…

'My love of botanicals is never far from my mind. One of my favourite places on the Isle of Wight is The Ventnor Botanic Garden. It's on the southern side of the island and can be several degrees warmer than the north. As a result it has a remarkable collection of rare and exotic plants. The gardens are laid out geographically, based on the different areas of the world ­- so you can start in the South African terraces and end up in the Australian garden. It's such a tranquil and relaxing environment. You can buy fruit, vegetables and herbs grown there too, which is lovely.'

On the festival…

'The Isle of Wight Festival has grown over the years - it's the first major festival in the UK summer calendar, but its history reaches back more than 45 years. It has seen names from The Who and Joni Mitchell to Jay-Z and Coldplay perform, and attracts tens of thousands of people over the four days. Liz Earle Beauty Company is sponsoring the festival this year and will be providing skincare and make-up behind the scenes for the VIP's and artists. My eldest daughter is looking forward to this year's line up which includes Blur and Fleetwood Mac - and her younger sister is angling for a pass too!'

Liz Earle Beauty Company celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2015. For more information on Liz Earle Beauty Company and its products, go to www.lizearle.co.uk